Inspirations: 12/4

[Ammy]

I'll start the day.

What is inspiring me today is the fact that I went back to the gym last night and worked out, and this morning I already have more energy and ver-voom than I've had since I stopped working out at the gym (it's been well over a month since I worked out there-which means lifting weights and/or doing intervals).
Working out is what my body wants and likes, so today I am reminded of that fact, and inspired that at 36, I feel better and more energetic than I did at 26 (and 320lbs!).

Enjoy the day!

[hawk]

Wow...At 53, I can say the same! As I am working out something happens to me and this smile takes over my face.

Well, I am limiting myself to protien and l-glutamine. sheesh..I am not allergic to oranges, I have had to take benadryl evey day since the antibiotics for this walking pneumonia. I need to heal the leaky gut it caused. Not an easy week, but I need to just do it.

[gitfiddle]

Thanks, Amy and Lynn! I am without inspiration today, so I need someone else's. Too much negativity going on with the people I love. I guess the one bright note here is that I'm not tempted to eat for comfort. I'll have to deal with my feelings the good old-fashioned way. Work at it! :rolleyes: Time to turn on the music. :)

[WakefieldWendy]

Hi everybody,

I'm going to go back to posting regularly (which means M-F when I'm not travelling for work). I haven't been able to post for two months in a row because there were elements of the challenges which I couldn't buy into. But this one is free-form so I guess I'm good.

I've been quite sick for a while, and still feel like I'm battling depression. I'm wondering when to do something about that.

My inspiration is the story of one of my church youth group members. This youth (I won't use pronouns to provide as much anonymity as possible) battles extreme anxiety and has for the past few weeks been living in an in-patient environment Sunday night to Friday afternoon at the local children's hospital. For a long time, this youth did not want anyone to know about the reality of the situation - "I want to be normal".

One of my co-leaders went to talk to this youth (we knew about the situation) and told a story of his own: when he first realized he was an alcoholic, he told his closest friends in the church (including the father of this youth, and the fathers of some of the other youth in our group). He expected that people would pull away from him, but they did not - he learned the lesson that when you express need, people are usually honoured, and people who love you will draw closer to you in your need. The youth then said that s/he wanted the other youth group members to known.

Since that time, members of the youth group have visited him every night. There have been so many people there that the hospital has asked us to co-ordinate our visits because we are overwhelming them. The first time I went to visit, the staff person who let me in (locked unit) said "[name] has a lot of visitors tonight". I said "now that s/he's telling people, you can expect that to happen a lot." The youth comes to our youth group activities on the weekend, and talks about learnings and feelings, including how bad it feels to talk about what you hate in yourself. All the other youth listen, and respond, and do not judge and say again and again that they love this youth.

This is a story of courage, and a story of love. And I am blessed to be part of it.

[Ammy]

Wonderful story WW!

I have a comment and a possible request.
The National Weight Registry sent me a form to say thanks for completing all the forms they sent me, and they attached a copy of one of their reports. I didn't bring it with me, but I'll paraphrase what I read.
They reported that only about 1% of the population report losing and MAINTAINING weight loss on a low carb diet, that most people that follow a low carb diet gain the weight back. Most dieters that maintain follow a low-fat, high carb diet. This was written by someone who's focus is diabetes.

We know this is not true...so if you meet their requirements, please consider joining the registry...let's make sure the world has proper statistics!!!

http://www.nwcr.ws/NWCR_join.htm

The National Weight Control Registry

How to Join

Are you eligible?
The National Weight Control Registry is a research study that seeks to gather information from people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off. The registry would like to hear from anyone 18 years of age or older who has:

<LI class=style1>Lost at least 30 pounds, and
Maintained a weight loss of at least 30 pounds for one year or more

[Karole]

Wendy, that is such a nice outcome for that child. So very glad that your co-leader was willing to share the circumstances of his life with him/her so as to allow him/her the willingness to share the personal story with his/her age group. Best wishes to all involved in what will probably be a on going process.

No, inspiration here either Carol, I am still feeling very iffy after the last few days of stomach virus. (I had a flu shot in early Nov.)--no fair !!
But I am enjoying reading the ones here very much.

[Rhyme'n Reason]

Carol,

Not running to food for comfort is a real accomplishment for most of us, I think. It's interesting in light of my thoughts last night.

I was caught between two people I care deeply about who have issues with each other. As a result, one does not want to share Christmas Eve at my house with the other, and somehow, it's my job to communicate to one that the other won't be there (so an unneeded gift won't be purchased). I am very uncomfortable in situations where someone's feelings will be hurt.

I noticed throughout the evening that I had more cravings than I have had for months and finally I realized that I had also been dealing with these conflicting emotions. I did not go off plan, but I'm not happy when I'm constantly wondering, "Now what can I eat?" It's too reminiscent of the old days.

So--here's to not eating in response to others' negativity.

[gitfiddle]

So--here's to not eating in response to others' negativity.
Cheers! I find it helps to have a non-damaging snack around just in case I get compulsive. It used to be nuts, but I'm quite tired of them. A small serving of ricotta cheese and frozen blueberries often does the trick. A fruity herbal tea can be soothing, too.

Mostly, I use self-talk. Life is full of ups and downs. Instead of burying these feelings, I'm going to handle them. How can I move forward and make the situation better? That kind of stuff. Prayer is a no-brainer for any situation!

[Ammy]

I wanted to make a slight change to my post below about the National Weigth Loss Registry.

The article, although toted as "recently published" in the letter I received, was actually published in February of 2005...
Therefore the concept of using a high carb low fat diet may not be what they're seeing in results almost 3 years later...

But STILL...go and register! What a great way to share information!